Fluid controlling system



Feb E2, i957 s. w. WARNER? 29?@@5377 FLUID CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed omu2, 1955 2 sheets-sheet? United States Patent O FLUID coNrnoLLiNG SYSTEMSterling W. Warner, Fredericksburg, Va., assigner to American ViscoseCorporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationOctober 2, 1953, Serial No. 383,819

Claims. (Cl. B14- 156) The present invention relates to apparatus forcontrolling the movement of a fluid from one chamber to another andparticularly to dampers for dryers, or other equipment in which a gas isbrought into Contact with a material to be treated thereby.

The present invention is particularly useful in overcoming some of thedisadvantages of conventional apparatus for applying a moisture-proofcoating to moisturesensitive transparent films such as cellophane. Insuch apparatus, it is necessary, after the coating material is applied,to transport the continuous sheet of the film through an elongate dryingchamber without any contact with apparatus until the coating issuiciently dry as to be non-tacky. As a preferred practice, the film issupported in such a chamber by carefully controlling the input of heateddrying air at various points within open regions which extend underneathand above the sheet. By careful regulation of the streams of airdirected at right angles to the plane along which it is desired to passthe sheet of lm, it is possible to support the sheet approximatelywithin the plane. Such operation requires careful adjustment of theregulating means for the air with respect to the longitudinal directionof the sheet as weil as its transverse direction. A diiculty involved inthe operation of such a dryer is that the gaseous drying medium receivesthe material volatilized from the moistureproong compound. Suchvaporized material tends to be deposited on the interior surfaces of thedryer and either corrodes or fouls relatively movable surfaces of thedryer in frictional engagement. Therefore, in either case, whereadjustment of the inlet ports for the drying medium is obtained bydampers which slide relative to a stationary portion, the movement ofsuch dampers is greatly impeded and may be prevented.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide amultiple-port damper system in which the closure elements for the portsare free of sliding relation with any stationary surfaces adjacent suchports.

It is an object of the present invention to provide as mechanicallysimple a shutter or damper system devoid as possible of cams and leversfor controlling the passage of fluid between two chambers.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive damper system in which panelsections may be constructed primarily of a thin gauge material, such assheet metal, requiring little or no reinforcement by other metal shapes.

Still another object is to construct a simply operated multiple-portdamper system in which there is little opportunity for play or slacknessto develop in control members therefor, whereby the uniformity ofadjustment of the shutter system may be maintained over a long serviceperiod.

A further object is to provide a multiple-port damper system of whichclosures thereof have some resilient flexibility and may be warped toovercome structural irregularities in the contour of respective portsand to correct undesirable inlet current conditions developed within thetreatment zones.

Patented Feb. 12, 1957 Other objects, features, and advantages willbecome apparent from the following description of the invention and thedrawings relating thereto in which Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation of adrying apparatus incorporating the embodiments of the inventionseparately illustrated by the other figures;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transversely-shortened elevation in section of aportion of the drying apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transversely-shortened section View taken alongline IIl--III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinally-shortened elevation of anotherportion of the drying apparatus illustrating another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transversely-shortened section of the apparatustaken along line V-V of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary transversely-shortened section of theapparatus taken along line Vl-Vl of Fig. 4l illustrating a device formaintaining damper settings.

In brief, the invention resides in a damper system coinprising one ormore movable closure members of thingauge material and a thin-sectiongenerally-planular wall member having a separate slot or port for eachclosure defined by spaced parallel portions of the wall member foldedout of the general plane thereof. Each of the closure members extends inits longitudinal direction in hinged relation with one of the foldedportions of the wall member by extension of one member into the troughdened by a saw-tooth or angularly folded portion of the other member.Each closure member and the wall member have folds of angular crosssection which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of theclosures and the saw-tooth portions to provide stiffness to the members.

Fig. l illustrates schematically one type of apparatus, i. e., a dryer5, in which the dampers of the present invention may be used. As shown,the dryer is provided with two groups 7 and 8 of dampers of one typewhich open and close ports tluough a thin section wall 9 disposedhorizontally above a sheet material lll which advances through the dryerover rollers 11 disposed exteriorly of the dryer at opposite endsthereof. Dampers of another type to be hereinafter described are dividedinto groups 14 and 15, each group comprising six dampers. As shown, eachgroup of dampers is controlled by a single control member runninglengthwise ofthe group in pivotal connection with each damper. lt is tobe understood that such a dryer may comprise many groups of damperssince the ports of one installation constructed in accordance with theinvention were less than on inch wide and spaced approximately eightinches apart.

The dryer shown is adapted for removing a solvent or other vaporizablematerial from the sheet 1t). The dryer is thus provided with inlet ducts18 and 19 which supply hot air to chambers 21 and 22 which constituteheaders from which the heated air may be discharged through the ports ofthe partitions or separating walls 9 and 12, into the chamber 23 inwhich a sheet 10 is disposed. The sheet 10 extends longitudinallythrough the chamber 23 and thus divides the chamber into two portionssupplied separately with heated air by the ducts 18 and 19. The aircarrying the solvent leaves the chamber 23 through the exhaust ports 24.The sheet 16 is unsupported except for the difference in gas pressurebetween the region of the chamber 23 above the sheet and the regionbelow the Sheet. The dampers of groups 14 and 15 are regulated so as todischarge upward supporting currents of air which, in addition tocounteracting the downward currents of air or gas being discharged fromthe groups of dampers 7 and 8, counteract the force due to the weight ofthe sheet 10. Upon proper adjustment of the various groups of dampers,the sheet may pass through the dryer alongl a desired plane, usuallyhorizontal, extending longitudinally and transversely with respect to 3the dryer. Vertically adjustable doors 25 at each end of the dryer areadjusted into adjacent relation with the sheet, in accordance with theplane of passage assumed by the sheet, to restrict the passage of airfrom the chamber 23. The dryer of simple design shown is merelyillustrative of the way in which the dampers of the present inventionmay be employed to control the ow of a treating fluid into contact witha material to be treated.

As the arrangement of the dampers of groups 7 and 8 is identical, Fig. 2is illustrative in enlarged section of either group. The horizontal wall9 is disposed in generally parallel relation with the sheet 10 andcomprises a series of sections 26, each of which terminates at one endin a vertical panel 27 extending both above and below the horizontalpanel 23. At the other end of the panel 28, the section 26 extends in anupturned panel 29 extending at an angle of approximately 90 with thepanel 28. The vertical panels 27 and 29 are contiguous with a horizontalpanel 28 and define the nearer sides of adjacent ports 31 and 32 throughthe wall 9. The wall 9 comprises a series of sections 26 disposed, asshown in Fig. l, along a generally horizontal plane to provide aplurality of ports spaced progressively in a direction parallel to amaterial to be treated such as the sheet 10. The side of the ports asdened by the various upwardly-extending panels 27 and 29 are shownextending at right angles to the general direction of spacing of theports and to the general plane of the conveyor elements 1l on which thematerial to be treated is supported.

The closures or dampers 35 for the ports are constituted preferably ofsingle panels of material which are bent, folded, or otherwise formed tothe contour as shown in Fig. 2. The damper may be fabricated as shownfrom a single sheet folded to form a tlat panel 36, a saw-tooth orangularly folded portion 37a contiguous therewith extending over theupturned panel 29 of each section 26, and a concavo-convex portion 37bextending along the lower side of the panel 36. As the center of gravityof the dampers is disposed generally downwardly from the saw-toothportion, the damper for each port is suspended preferably from theupturned panel 29. The convex sur face of portion 37b engages the endpanel 27 of the wall section 26. At one end of each damper adjacent thelateral wall 3S of the dryer, a small cylindrical member or stub shaft39, such as a piece of rod, may be welded to the concave surface of theconcave-convex portion of the damper. At the other end of the damper, asshown in Fig. 3, another similar element 40 is secured. The

elements 39 of a group of dampers 35 (six dampers as shown in Fig. l)protrude beyond the ends of respective dampers and extend throughcomplementary apertures of a bar 42 supported along thc inner surface ofthe dryer wall 38. The elements may rotate within respective apertureswith respect to the bar. The elements 39 also protrude through aperturesor slots 43 in the lateral wall 3S which allow each damper to move fromits open position to its closed position. In a similar manner, theelements t0 extend through a control bar 44 and the opposite lateralwall 45. ln Fig. 2, the closed position ol' the damper is shown in whichthe lower convex surface of the damper engages the panel 27 of a wallsection 26. The open position of the dampers is shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 4 is illustrative of a section of the ported wall 12 and vdampersfrom the groups 14 and 15. The wall 12 for separating the compartments22 and 23 comprises a plurality of sections 50, each section having agenerally horizontal panel 51, an end panel 52 constituting onetransverse portion of the periphery of a port, and a portion 53 ofsaw-tooth or angular cross section at the other end of the sectionhaving a vertical panel constituting a peripheral portion of each portopposing a panel 52 of another wall section 50. The saw-tooth portion ofthe section points downwardly to provide a trough 56 for supporting adamper 57. The damper may rest on its bottom edge 58 and swing withrespect to stationary portions of the dryer with the bottom of thetrough as an axis. The panel 59 of the damper is folded sharply at 61,and also bent to provide a concavo-convex portion 62 which engages thepanel 52 of the adjacent wall section 50.

A cylindrical element 63 is attached to the inner concave surface of theportion 62 and extends through a bar 65 in pivotable relationshiptherewith. The element 63 also extends through a horizontally-elongateslot 64 within 'the lateral wall 38. The damper 57 has a cylindricalelement 67 similar to element 65 which extends through a control bar 68and the lateral wall 45 from the other end of the damper in the samemanner as described with respect to damper 35 of Figs. 2 and 3. Aplurality of dampers are connected by the bars 65 and 68, and aresecured in a desired position in the same manner (see Fig. 4) as thedamper system of Figs. 2 and 3 by clamping devices of the sameconstruction as that illustrated in Fig. 6 and described below.

The degree to which the ports are open may be determined by manipulationof the clamping assembly illustrated in Fig. 6 which fixes or holds theposition of the bar 65 at any point along a path of movement lengthwiseof itself in moving the dampers attached thereto from their openpositions to their closed positions and vice versa.

To secure the bar relative to the lateral wall of the dryer and tothereby obtain the degree of opening ofthe damper ports desired, a bolt48 is provided which extends through the bar 65 with its head welded orotherwise secured to the inwardly-facing surface of the bar. The boltextends also through a slot 49 in the wall 38. The slot 49 is elongatedin a horizontal directionto allow movement of the bolt for moving thebar between the open and closed positions of the dampers. In threadedrelationship with the bolt 48 is a sleeve 51 which may be secured, asshown, in coaxial relationship to a small wheel 54 such asconventionally found on valve handles. By turning the wheel, the sleeve51 may be tightened against the wall 3S to bring the bar 65 tightlyagainst the wall 45.

Thus, the dampers may be adjusted simultaneously to open, closed, orpartly open, positions, and secured in such positions within respectiveports. The control bar 68 disposed along the wall 45 and the oppositeends of the dampers, is secured in the same manner as just describedwith respect to the clamp device for the control bar 65. Since the:dampers are constituted primarily of sheet material, and if the sheetmaterial is sucently thin, the ends of thc dampers along one wall of thedryer may thus spring with respect to the ends along the opposite wall.Therefore, for accurate adjustment of the dampers, a scale may beprovided which extends horizontally along the periphery of the side-wallslot for each bolt of a clamping device whereby opposite ends of thedampers may be secured to accurate postions of the dampers.

ln operating apparatus such as illustrated in Fig. l, it is practicallyimpossible to predict positions of the dampers within respective portswhich will bring about satisfactory approximate support of the sheet 10along a desired plane. Many factors entering into the construction andoperation of the apparatus affect the velocity of the air currentsissuing from the ports in the dampers toward the plane in which thesheet is supported. The adjustment of the dampers is a meticulousoperation involving usually two operators working at opposite sides ofthe dryer who, by observation of the running sheet through transparentwindows in the lateral walls of the dryer, adjust the dampers at one endindependently of the adjustment made at the other end. Thus, thecapacity of the dampers to be intentionally warped adds greatly to thefacility in adjusting and balancing the air pressure in such a dryer.Once such a complete adjustment is made with accuracy, the dryer may beoperated indefinitely without readjustment provided that the structureand the operation of the dryer is not altered.

pas

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes and variations may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

l claim:

l. ln fluid-conducting apparatus, a wall member for separating twocompartments having a port extending from one compartment to the other,the periphery of the port having one pair oi opposite portions whichextend in generally parallel relation Within a plane, the wall memberhaving surfaces extending from said opposing peripheral portionstransversely to said plane, a closure member for the port extending withits longitudinal direction parallel to the length of said peripheralportions, one ot said members having a folded marginal portion ofangular cross section adjacent one of said surfaces of the wall memberto provide a trough extending parallel to the length of said peripheralportions of the port, the other member having a marginal portionextending into engagement with the bottom surface of the trough inpivotal connection between the members whereby the closure member issupported by the wall member in swingable relationship, said closuremember being swingable about said pivotal connection into and out ofengagement with the other surface of the wall member.

2. ln fluid-conducting apparatus, a thin section wall member forseparating two compartments having a port extending from one compartmentto the other, the periphery of the port extending generally within aplane and having a pair of parallel portions along which portions of thewall member are folded out of the general plane of the member and extendin transverse directions from said plane, a closure member of thin-gaugematerial for the port extending with its longitudinal direction parallelto the length of said parallel peripheral portions, one of said membershaving a folded marginal portion of angular cross section to provide atrough extending parallel to the length of the closure member, the othermember having a marginal portion extending into engagement with a bottomsurface of the trough to provide a hinge joint whereby the closuremember is supported by the wall member in swingable relationship, saidclosure member being swingable about the hinge joint into and out ofengagement with the other folded portion of the wall member.

3. ln fluid-conducting apparatus, a thin section wall member forseparating two compartments having a port extending from one compartmentto the other, the periphery of the port extending generally wit-hin aplane and having a pair of parallel portions, the wall member havingspaced portions folded along said peripheral portions out of the generalplane or" the member which extend in transverse directions from saidplane, a closure member of thin-gauge material for the port extendingwith its longitudinal direction parallel to the length of said foldedportions, one of said members having a folded marginal portion ofangular cross section to provide a trough extending parallel to thelength of the closure member, the other member having a marginal portionextending into engagement with the bottom surface of the trough toprovide .a hinge joint whereby the closure member is supported by thewall member in swingable relationship, said closure member beingswingable about the hinge joint into and out of engagement with thefolded portion of the wall member, said members having folds of angularcross section, the apexes of such folds extending parallel to the lengthof the port to render said members more rigid and self-supporting.

4. ln fluid-conducting apparatus, a thin section generaily-planular wallmember for separating two compartments having a port extending from onecompartment to the other, the periphery of the port having a pair ofparaliel portions extending generally along the plane of a wall member,the wall member having spaced portions folded along said peripheralportions out of its general plane and extending transversely from saidplane,` side walls for the apparatus extending in a direction transverseto said plane adjacent the periphery of the wall member, a closuremember of thin-gauge material for the port extending with itslongitudinal direction parallel to said peripheral portions, one of saidmembers having a folded marginal portion of angular `construction toprovide a trough extending parallel to the length of the closure member,the other having a marginal portion ex* tending into engagement with thebottom surface of the trough to provide a hinge joint whereby theclosure member is supported by the wall member in swingablerelationship, said closure member being swingable about the hinge jointinto and out of engagement with the other folded portion of the wallmember, an element extending parallel to the length and beyond the endof the closure member, and means associated with said element and theadjacent side wall for securing the element in iixed position withrespect to the side wall whereby the closure member may be secured inany desired position within its `swinging ambit within said port.

5. In a fluid-conducting apparatus, a thin-section generally-planularwall member for separating two compartments having a plurality of portsfor connecting the compartments in communicating relationship, saidports being progressively spaced along a straight path, the periphery ofeach port having a pair of opposite parallel portions, the wall memberhaving portions folded along said peripheral portions out of the generalplane of the wall member and extending in transverse relationship tosaid path, a closure member for each port comprising a thingaugematerial and having its longitudinal direction parallei to said parallelperipheral portions, one of said members having a folded marginalportion of angular cross section to provide a trough extending parallelto the length of the closure member, the other member of said membershaving a marginal portion extending into cngagement with the bottomsurface of the trough to provide a hinge joint whereby the closuremember is supported by the wall member in swingabie relationship, eachclosure member being swingable about the hinge joint into and out ofengagement with the other folded portieri of the wall member, the hingejoints of all the closure members being disposed in the same generalplane parallel to the plane of the wall member, a pivotal elementextending from the end ot each closure member in a direction parallel tothe length thereof, all pivotal olements being disposed in a planeapproximately parallel to the plane of the wall member, an elongatemember extending in parallel relationship to said path in pivotalconnection with all of said elements, and holding means associated withthe elongate member and an adjacent side wall of the apparatus forsecuring the elongate member in a iixed position with respect to saidside wall.

6. ln huid-conducting apparatus, a wall member of thin sheet materialfor separating two compartments having a port extending rom onecompartment to the other,.

the periphery of the port having a pair of opposed parallel portions,the wall member having spaced portions folded along said parallelperipheral portions out of the general plane of the wall member andextending transversely from said plane, a closure member of thin sheetmaterial for the port extending with its longitudinal direction parallelto the length of said peripheral portion, one of said members having afolded marginal portion of angular cross section to provide a troughextending parallel lo the length of the closure member, the other memberhaving a marginal portion extending into engagement with the bottomsurface of the trough to provide a hinge joint whereby the closuremember is supported by the wall member in swingable relationship, saidclosure member eing swingable about the hinge-joint into and out ofengagement with the other folded portion of the wall member, the portionof said closure which swings into and out of engagement with the wallmember comprising a rounded convex surface of the folded portion of theclosure member, said members having folds of angular cross section, theapexes of such folds extending parallel to the length of the closuremember to provide stiffness and resistance to bending.

7. In Huid-conducting apparatus; a wall member comprising a thin sheetmaterial and having a port therethrough of which opposing portions ofits periphery are disposed in approximately parallel relationship alo-nga plane; the sheet material being folded along said peripheral portionsof the port to provide a llat portion of the member adjacent oppositesides of the port extending generally along the plane, and a separateportion of the member extending transversely to said plane from each ofsaid portions of the periphery in contiguous relation with the adjacentat portion of the member; one of said transverse member portionsextending rst downwardly away from said plane and upwardly toward theplane in angular cross-section defining a trough opening toward theplane; a closure member of thin sheet material for the port extendingwith its longitudinal direction parallel to the length of the trough,the closure member having a longitudinal marginal portion extending intoengagement with the bottom surface of the trough and another portioncontiguous to said marginal portion extending into the port and adaptedto swing into and out of engagement with the opposing surface of theother folded portion.

8. In timid-conducting apparatus; a wall member comprising a thin sheetmaterial and having a port therethrough of which opposing portions ofits periphery are disposed in approximately parallel relationship alonga plane; the sheet material being folded along said peripheral portionsof the port to provide a flat portion of the member adjacent oppositesides of the port extending generally along the plane, and a separateportion of the member extending transversely to said plane from each ofsaid portions of the periphery in contiguous relation with the adjacentiiat portion of the member; one of said transverse member portionsextending from the flat portion in a lateral direction from said planeand then in doubled relation back over itself through the port to 4theother side of the plane, the folded portion of the Wall member at theother side of the opening extending rst downwardly away from said planeand upwardly toward the plane in angular cross-section defining a troughopening toward the plane; a closure member of thin sheet material forthe port extending with its longitudinal direction parallel to thelength of the trough, the closure member having a longitudinal marginalportion extending into engagement with the bottom surface of the troughand another portion contiguous to said marginal portion extending intothe port and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with theopposing surface of the rstdefined other folded portion, saidlatter-named portion of the closure member being folded in aconcave-convex contour to provide a rounded convex surface extendinglengthwise of the closure member for engaging the rstnamed foldedportion of the wall member.

9. In fluid-conducting apparatus; a wall member cornprising a thin sheetmaterial having a port therethrough of which opposing portions of itsperiphery are disposed in approximately parallel relationship along aplane; the sheet material being folded along said peripheral portions ofthe port to provide a dat portion of the member adjacent each of saidportions f said periphery and extending generally along the plane, and aseparate portion of the member extending transversely with respect tosaid plane from each of said peripheral portions in contiguous relationwith the adjacent at portion; one of the transversely-extending portionsextending upwardly, a closure member of thin sheet material for the portextending with its length parallel to said portions of said peripheryand having a marginal portion folded in angular cross section to providea trough extending lengthwise of the closure member and opening in adownward direction, said upwardly-extending wall member portionextending loosely into engagement with the bottom surface of the troughto provide a hinge joint between the members whereby the closure memberis swingably supported by the wall member, said closure member having aportion extending from said angular portion into the port adapted forswinging into and out of engagement with the othertransversely-extending portion of the wall member.

10. In fluid-conducting apparatus, a wall member comprising a thin sheetmaterial having a port therethrough of which opposing portions of itsperiphery are' disposed in approximately parallel relationship along aplane; the sheet material being folded along said peripheral portions ofthe port to provide a dat portion of the member adjacent each of saidportions of said periphery and extending generally along the plane, anda separate portion of the member extending transversely with respect tosaid plane from each of said peripheral portions in contiguous relationwith the adjacent flat portion; one of the transversely-extendingportions extending from the flat portion iirst in a lateral directionfrom the plane and then in doubled relation back over itself through theport to the other side of the plane in opposed spaced relation with theother transversely-extending member portion, the latter-named memberportion extending upwardly a closure member of thin sheet material forthe opening extending with its length parallel to said portions of saidperiphery and having a marginal portion folded in saw-tooth crosssection to provide a trough extending lengthwise of the closure memberand opening in a downward direction, said latternamed transverselyupwardly-extending wall member portion extending loosely into engagementwith a bottom surface of the trough to provide a hinge joint between themembers whereby the closure member is swingably supported by the wallmember, said closure member having a portion extending from thesaw-tooth portion into the port adapted for swinging into and out ofengagement with the latter-named other transversely-extending portion ofthe wall member, said latter-named portion of vthe closure member beingfolded in concavo-convex contour to provide a rounded convex surfaceextending lengthwise of the closure member and facing toward thefirst-named folded portion of the wall member for engagement therewith.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS927,995 Morrow July 13, 1909 1,575,144 Bishop Mar. 2, 1926 2,060,289Downs Nov. 10, 1936 2,224,312 ODay Dec. 10, 1940 2,225,505 Oten Dec. 17, 1940 2,422,105 Lehrer June 10, 1947

